Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words Volume A-I, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint)

Perhaps no desideratum in our literature could be named which needs this indulgence more than aD ictionary of theE arly English language, a work requiring such extensive and varied research, that the labours of a century would still leave much to be added and corrected, and one which has been too often abandoned by eminent antiquaries for failure to be conspicuous. It is now brought to a completion for the first time in the following pages, in some respects imperfectly, but comprising a variety of information nowhere else to be met with in a collective state, and forming at present the only compilation where a reader of the works of early English writers can reasonably hope to find explanations of many of the numerous terms which have become obsolete during the last four centuries. So far I may be permitted to speak without intrenching on the limits of criticism. A work containing more than 50,000 words, fmany of which have never appeared even in scattered glossaries, and illustrated, with very few exceptions, by original authorities, must contain valuable material for the philologist, even if disfigured by errors. With respect to the latter contingency, I am not acquainted with any glossary, comprising merely a few hundred words, which does not contain blunders, although in many instances the careful attention of the editor has been specially directed to the task. Can I then anticipate that in a field, so vast that no single life would suffice for a minute examination of every object, I could have escaped proportionate liabilities? That such may be pointed out I have little doubt, notwithstanding the pains taken to prevent AG lossary of Archaic and Provincial Words was compiled about fifty years ago by the Rev. Jonathan Boucher, Vicar of Epsom, but only a small portion, extending to Bla, has yet been published. The manuscript, which is in the custody of one(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.) Read more